【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the value of volumetric interpolated breathhold examination (3DVIBE) MRI sequence in the diagnosis of functional islet cell tumors of the pancreas. MethodsDedicated MRI scan was performed for 3 patients suspected to have functional islet cell tumors of the pancreas on clinical and laboratory basis. The MRI scan protocol included routine axial T1W and T2W, coronal true fast imaging with steady state procession (TrueFISP) and MRCP, gadoliniumenhanced 3DVIBE dynamic triphasic acquisitions and enhanced 2D GRE T1W scan. The three phases images of 3DVIBE sequence were acquired at 15 s, 40 s and 65 s after injection of contrast agent, corresponding to the early arterial, late arterial and portal venous phase respectively. The imaging features were compared with surgical and pathological findings. ResultsThe triphasic images of 3DVIBE sequence depicted clearly the morphology of small functional islet cell tumors of the pancreas and reflected accurately the characteristics of tumor blood supply, while other MRI sequences might miss these small lesions. ConclusionThinslice and fast dynamic MRI sequence, as exemplified by 3DVIBE sequence, is very useful in the detection and characterization of pancreatic functional islet cell tumors.